Stalin's Consolidation of Power (1924–1939)

1. Stalin becomes Communist Party General Secretary

   Apr 3, 1922Labels: Joseph Stalin, Communist Party, General Secretary

   • Britannica
   • CPSU Post

2. Lenin dictates “Letter to the Congress”

   Dec 23, 1922Labels: Vladimir Lenin, Lenin's Testament

   • Britannica
   • CW 36

3. Lenin’s Testament addendum targets Stalin

   Jan 4, 1923Labels: Lenin, Lenin's postscript

   • Britannica
   • Lenin Testament

4. Stalin publishes “Foundations of Leninism”

   Jan 1, 1924Labels: Foundations of, Joseph Stalin

   • Foundations

5. Lenin dies, triggering succession struggle

   Jan 21, 1924Labels: Vladimir Lenin

   • History
   • Lenin Funeral

6. USSR adopts the 1924 Constitution

   Jan 31, 1924Labels: USSR Constitution, Second Congress

   • 1924 Const
   • Britannica USSR

7. Trotsky expelled from the Communist Party

   Nov 15, 1927Labels: Leon Trotsky, Communist Party

   • Guardian
   • Britannica

8. Stalin announces the First Five-Year Plan

   Oct 1, 1928Labels: First Five-Year, Soviet industrialization

   • 5 Year Plans
   • Britannica USSR

9. Trotsky banished from the Soviet Union

   Jan 1, 1929Labels: Leon Trotsky

   • Britannica
   • Trotsky

10. Stalin’s “Year of the Great Turn” article

    Nov 7, 1929Labels: Year of, Joseph Stalin

    • Great Break
    • Britannica USSR

11. Stalin calls to “liquidate kulaks as a class”

    Dec 27, 1929Labels: kulaks, Joseph Stalin

    • Britannica
    • Dekulak

12. Ryutin Platform sparks crackdown within party

    Sep 23, 1932Labels: Ryutin Platform, party crackdown

    • Ryutin

13. Holodomor peaks amid broader 1932–33 famine

    May 1, 1933Labels: Holodomor, Ukraine

    • Britannica
    • Holodomor

14. 17th Party Congress convenes under Stalin

    Jan 26, 1934Labels: 17th Party, Congress of

    • 17th Cong

15. Sergei Kirov assassinated in Leningrad

    Dec 1, 1934Labels: Sergei Kirov, Leningrad

    • Britannica
    • Kirov

16. First Moscow show trial opens

    Aug 19, 1936Labels: Moscow show, Zinoviev

    • Britannica
    • Great Purge

17. USSR adopts the 1936 “Stalin Constitution”

    Dec 5, 1936Labels: 1936 Constitution, Stalin Constitution

    • 1936 Const

18. Second Moscow show trial opens

    Jan 23, 1937Labels: Moscow show, Second Trial

    • Britannica
    • Moscow Trials

19. NKVD Order No. 00447 launches mass operations

    Jul 30, 1937Labels: NKVD Order, NKVD

    • Order 00447
    • USC Shoah

20. Third Moscow show trial ends in death sentences

    Mar 13, 1938Labels: Moscow show, Bukharin

    • Britannica
    • Moscow Trials

21. 18th Party Congress meets after the Great Purge

    Mar 10, 1939Labels: 18th Party, Joseph Stalin

    • 18th Cong

22. Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact signed in Moscow

    Aug 23, 1939Labels: Molotov Ribbentrop, USSR Germany

    • Britannica
    • MR Pact